At a Glance

In the Cycladic Islands, discover where mild Aegean breezes refresh communities built among the remains of ancient civilizations and waves lap at the shores of fishing villages where traditional ways of life survive unchanged for centuries. From grand architecture to captivating archaeological sites, learn how the story of Greek civilization is the story of its islands.

Activity Level

Moderately Challenging

Walking uphill and downhill, up to two miles per day, on uneven terrain, cobblestone and marble streets that may be slippery. Steep stairs without railings and standing for four hours per day with breaks at museum/historic sites. Participants must carry their luggage on and off the ships.

Small Group

Love to learn and explore in a small-group setting? These adventures offer small, personal experiences with groups of 10 to 24 participants.

Best of all, you'll ...

In Athens, climb the Acropolis to the Parthenon and discover Greece’s most important relics in the National Archaeological Museum.

Come ashore on the islands of Mykonos, Delos, Paros and Santorini to learn about their role in Greek civilization and conjure the ancient Minoan civilization on the island of Crete.

Participate in traditional music and dance and taste ouzo, a time-honored drink among Greeks.

Daniel Klein's witty meditation on the ancients, life in the Greek Islands, his favorite philosophers -- and growing old gracefully -- is also a delightful romp through the Aegean, primarily set on Hydra.

This lively illustrated guide covers the architecture, painting and sculpture of Ancient Greece from the third millennium to the end of the Hellenistic period. With 282 color and 28 black-and-white illustrations.

This lyrical novel captures the humanity, quirks and loves of village life in the Greek islands. A satire of war, this charming and richly-colored novel is set on Cephalonia during the Italian occupation in the 1940s.

Featuring hundreds of illustrations and invitingly short chapters on topics from the first Greeks to the Heroic Age and classical Athens. With modern color photographs of great Greek cities from Athens and Delphi to Knossos, Ephesus, Pergamum and Priene.

The first in Mary Renault's trilogy of well-researched page-turners features the tale of Theseus, slayer of the Minotaur and the king of Athens. Known for her exhaustive research, Renault is an acknowledged master of historical fiction.

A new edition of Graves' classic collection with a cover by comic book artist Ross MacDonald. This expert retelling by Graves, a poet, memoirist and the author of I, Claudius (ITL429), still remains the seminal modern translation of the mythologies of Ancient Greece.

Dinner: Enjoy a festive Welcome Dinner at a "taverna," a traditional, casual restaurant. Unless otherwise noted, dinners on this program are typically a three-course set menu. Please note that water is included in the program cost at all meals.

Evening: At leisure.

DAY

3

Acropolis, Acropolis Museum, Plaka

Athens

B,L,D

Parthenon Hotel

Activity note: 5 hours of walking and standing on uneven terrain, and 100 stairs up and down the Acropolis and in Plaka with no handrails.

Morning: Climb to the top of Athens' Acropolis, home to a number of temples, the most famous of which is the Parthenon. The Parthenon was built to honor the city's patroness, Athena. See the grand sun-bleached structure built by Pericles in the 5th century BC to celebrate the city's victory at Marathon, and visit the nearby Acropolis Museum holding exquisite finds from the site. Then enjoy a walk through the lively old quarter of Plaka, a neighborhood with many Byzantine churches and endless shops.

Lunch: At a local taverna. Unless otherwise noted, lunches on this program are typically a two-course set menu.

Afternoon: Take part in a lecture: "Greece: One of the Oldest Civilizations in the World." We will focus on the impact of geography and the role of the sea in the development of local culture, and we will delve into the influence of the arts.

Morning: Check out of the hotel and transfer to Piraeus, the port of Athens, to board a ferry to Mykonos. On the way to Mykonos, sail as ancient sailors did by Cape Sounion and view from a distance the 5th century B.C. Temple of Poseidon, which guards even today the maritime routes from Athens to the Aegean Islands. Shortly after, enter the world of the Cyclades where islands such as Kea, Kythnos and Tinos emerge from the blue waters of the Aegean. Approach the stunning port of Syros, and then continue on to cosmopolitan Mykonos.

Lunch: At a local taverna in Mykonos, including a cooking demonstration.

Afternoon: Attend an enriching lecture: "The Cyclades in the Aegean World." There is no better place than Mykonos to hear our first lecture about the Cyclades - these unique little floating worlds where Apollo the sun-god was born and with him a new era of human civilization! The presentation of history, architecture and also modern life will be followed by a wonderful walk through the picturesque white-washed alleys of the town. Walk past many private chapels, monuments of the people's strong Orthodox faith. Continue to the famous windmills, and finally reach one of the most magnificent religious architectural ensembles of the island, the Paraportiani church. A few steps farther and we experience the vibrant port of Mykonos!

Dinner: At a popular local restaurant in the town of Mykonos.

Evening: At leisure.

DAY

5

Mykonos, Delos - Birth Place of Apollo

Mykonos

B,L

Myconian Kyma

Activity note: 3 hours of walking on uneven terrain.

Breakfast: Hotel dining room.

Morning: Depart by boat from the port town of Mykonos and approach sacred Delos! This unique island was the birth place of Apollo, the god of the sun, music and arts. Located in the center of the Aegean Sea, Delos offered shelter to the ships of the early sailors, attracted rich merchants to build their villas close to the sanctuary of their god, and soon became an important commercial crossroad in the eastern Mediterranean. During an expert-led excursion, see the ruins of ancient Delos.

Lunch: At a local taverna in Mykonos.

Afternoon: Relax on the cosmopolitan island of Mykonos. Wander its busy, narrow streets, discover its elegant shops, or enjoy a cocktail in one of the trendy bars. You will also have the opportunity to rejuvenate at the thalassotherapy spa on your own at the hotel. The thalassotherapy program offers the curative effects of mineral enriched seawater and takes you through three pools, each with a different temperature and salinity content.

Dinner: Explore local fare on your own.

Evening: Catch one of Mykonos' magical sunsets, either from the Venetia neighborhood or from the terrace of your hotel.

Morning: Check out of the hotel and transfer to the port of Mykonos to board a ferry to Paros.

Lunch: At a restaurant on the island of Paros.

Afternoon: Our Cycladic experience continues with a pleasant walk through Paroikia, the main port of town of the island and one of the most attractive towns in the Cyclades. Visit the Ekatontapyliani Church, an important pilgrimage site of the Orthodox world. According to tradition, the church was founded by St. Helen, the mother of the Byzantine emperor Constantine the Great, in the 4th century A.D. We continue our stroll through the narrow streets where beautiful blooming bougainvilleas decorate every single corner until we reach a typical island tavern where a sip of Ouzo introduces a traditional dinner.

Dinner: At a local restaurant, where you will enjoy a tasting of Ouzo, the anise-flavored aperitif that is a symbol of Greek culture.

Evening: At leisure.

DAY

7

Paros, Marble Quarry, Food and Wine in the Aegean

Paros

B,L

Pandrossos Hotel

Activity note: 2 hours of walking on uneven terrain with ascents and descents.

Breakfast: Hotel dining room.

Morning: Today we drive to the well-known village of Lefkes, for an expert-led walk with your Group Leader through the old city's narrow streets. Learn about the history and medieval architecture of the city. Along the way we stop to visit the marble quarry, the source of the island's wealth and inspiration for many important sculptural masterpieces. Continue your walking excursion in the quaint fishing village of Naoussa.

Lunch: At a local taverna.

Afternoon: Lecture on the ancient traditions of food and wine in the Aegean. Afterwards, enjoy some free time.

Morning: Check out of the hotel and board a ferry to Santorini. Also known as Thera, this quintessential Greek island formed its distinctive crescent shape in an ancient volcanic explosion that created its "caldera" or crater.

Lunch: On board the ferry or at the hotel (depending on ferry schedules).

Afternoon: Enjoy an orientation walk around Fira, the island's vivid capital. Then take a scenic drive north to the most picturesque village of Santorini, Oia. Oia offers unique architectural complexes, elegant art galleries, fashion shops, cozy cafes, gourmet restaurants, as well as its famed sunsets - considered by some to be the most beautiful in the world.

Dinner: After admiring the sunset, end the day with dinner at a local taverna in Oia.

Evening: At leisure.

DAY

9

Santorini, Akrotiri, Wine Tasting, Greek Music and Dancing

Santorini

B,D

Daedalus Hotel

Activity note: 3 hours of walking, and some stairs.

Breakfast: Hotel dining room.

Morning: We’ll start our island exploration from the excavations of Akrotiri! The archaeological excavations brought to light the remains of a city destroyed during the eruption of the volcano in 1630 B.C. Today we have the opportunity to see the remains of three and four-story buildings, houses supplied with fresh running water and a drainage system and decorated with wonderful frescoes; it is regarded as one of the most fascinating sites of prehistoric Greece. We continue on to the Prehistoric Museum of Thera to view some of the most important finds from Akrotiri.

Lunch: Explore local fare on your own.

Afternoon: There is no way to describe the wild volcanic beauty of this island with the gorgeous views and the amazing cliffs dropping straight down to the dark blue waters of the caldera. Therefore, we take you to the edge of the cliffs, where one of the best known wineries of the island is located, to taste some of the finest types of Santorini wine, followed by local meze (appetizers).

Dinner: Celebrations in Greece center around food, song and family. Enjoy a lively evening with dinner, local music and folk dancing.

Morning: Explore the traditional village of Pyrgos on foot, and discuss the issues surrounding vanishing village life in the Greek Islands with your Group Leader. Then enjoy some free time to walk around on your own. Later, transfer to Kamari on Santorini's southeast side where we can enjoy the beach resort before boarding the ferry to Crete.

Lunch: Explore local fare on your own.

Afternoon: Free time aboard the ferry to relax. Arrive in Crete and transfer to the hotel.

Dinner: During our first evening in Crete and just before dinner, we meet at the panoramic rooftop of our hotel where your Group Leader will give an interesting talk about the history and traditions of the island, and will also introduce us to the incredible and fragrant world of the herbs of Crete!

Evening: At leisure.

DAY

11

Knossos, Pottery of the Ancient Minoans, Cooking Show

Heraklion Crete

B,L,D

Lato Boutique Hotel

Activity note: 2 hours of walking, and some stairs with no handrails.

Breakfast: Hotel dining room.

Morning: We begin the day by discovering Crete's best-known archaeological site, Knossos. Knossos is the legendary home of King Minos and the famed beast Minotaur. End the morning with a visit to a local ceramicist to watch him at his craft. He will also discuss pottery traditions of the ancient Minoans.

Lunch: Gain a contemporary vision of traditional island life during an excursion to the typical village of Myrtia. Here we enjoy a delicious lunch at a family-run taverna where all the produce is grown in the family's garden.

Afternoon: Enjoy free time to explore the city of Heraklion. Stroll through the herbs market or relax at a local cafe with a cup of local herbal tea called “Diktamo." Before dinner, enjoy a presentation by a local expert on the flora and fauna of the island of Crete.

Dinner: At the hotel where the owners will show us how to prepare some traditional Cretan dishes.

Evening: At leisure.

DAY

12

Phaistos Archaeological Site

Heraklion Crete

B,L,D

Lato Boutique Hotel

Activity note: 3 hours of walking and standing on uneven terrain, and many steps with no handrails.

Breakfast: Hotel dining room.

Morning: A field trip takes us to the archaeological site at Phaistos, one of the richest and most important centers of the Minoan culture. On our way to Phaistos we stop to visit the archaeological site of ancient Gortyna, one of the most important cities in Crete with a history that goes back 6,000 years. This city is where the famous "Gortyn Code" was founded, which is both the oldest and most complete known example of a code of the ancient Greek law.

Lunch: At a taverna in picturesque Matala.

Afternoon: Investigate the Vori Ethnological Museum with exhibitions celebrating daily life on the island. These exhibits explore food, architecture, weaving and the customs and traditions of the island. Then enjoy a walk through Vori and encounter the remains of the Venetian houses. You may also wish to take a swim this afternoon. Make sure to bring your bathing suit!

Morning: Begin the morning with a visit to Rethymnon, the only Renaissance town in Greece, where one can still see well-preserved Venetian buildings! Then continue on to Chania, a picturesque port on Crete's western coast. Enjoy a walking excursion to explore Chania's oldest neighborhood with its 16th-century Venetian church, market, the Naval Museum, and ending at the charming old ship harbor with its beautiful lighthouse.

Lunch: Explore local fare on your own at one of the quaint cafes or restaurants.

Afternoon: This afternoon enjoy some free time in Chania before boarding the ferry to Piraeus, Athens.

Dinner: On board the ferry.

Evening: At leisure.

DAY

14

National Archaeological Museum, Farewell Dinner

Athens

B,D

Parthenon Hotel

Activity note: 2 hours of walking and standing, and some stairs.

Breakfast: Hotel dining room.

Morning: Transfer from Piraeus to our hotel in Athens. We complete our experience with a visit to the National Archaeological Museum, the city's most important collection and home to impressive artifacts highlighting every era of ancient Greek history.

The Parthenon Hotel offers the best of classic and modern Greece. Located in the historic center of Athens, the celebrated archaeological walk of Acropolis is only steps away, and shops, theaters, museums and a vibrant night life are within easy reach. The "Acropolis" metro station stands less than 150 meters away.

The recently renovated Myconian K Hotels are a complex of hotels that offer affordable luxury accommodation in the heart of Mykonos Town. Alongside the white-washed houses, churches and famous windmills of this Greek town, these hotels blend in beautifully with their picturesque surroundings. Guests can dine in the hotel's chic restaurant, enjoy the sea breeze from their private balcony, and experience the deep blue waters of the Aegean Sea. Museums, beaches and the harbor are all within easy reach.

The three-star Pandrossos Hotel is a lovely waterside hotel, designed with cool colors and an airy atmosphere that emulates the calm and beauty of the Mediterranean. It is conveniently located near downtown Parikia, public transport, and the beach.

The newly renovated four-star Daedalus Hotel is surrounded by fragrant gardens and palm trees and is located in the heart of Santorini's vibrant capital, Fira. Inspired by traditional Cycladic architecture, the hotel combines elegant Greek style and modern amenities for a luxurious and family-friendly stay.

Lato Boutique Hotel is located across from the old city harbor in one of the oldest and quieter neighborhoods of Heraklion. It is within walking distance of the local market, famous archaeological and historical museums, and it offers spectacular views of the Venetian Fortress and the Mediterranean Sea. This charming, modern and colorful hotel has been family-owned and managed since 1978.

This is a great trip - very active but doable for those with reasonable mobility. We had a few travelers who needed handrails and the trip description says there aren't any so pay attention. Greece was so amazing and I enjoyed every minute of this trip. The hotels are great, the food is great and I learned so much.

To those of you who would like to go to the Greek islands this tour is for you. Especially if you like archeological and cultural activities. If you go on a cruise you will have little time on the islands. This trip gives you the right amount of time to get a flavor of each island. This was our seventh road scholar trip and definitely the best.

This program is exceptional. There is a lot of different experiences available. The tour guide we had, Efi, was fantastic and unruffled under the unexpected pressure of a 96 hour government strike that affected the ferries - she made the program even better than originally planed!

I highly recommend this program if you are interested in learning about ancient Greek culture, history and art. The guide is excellent and well informed. The tour is well organized and managed. It is what I would consider as moderately challenging physically.

Greece is a lovely country, particularly the islands. We had great weather, beautiful scenery, plentiful food and fun participants. I learned a lot on this trip, particularly about the ancient history of Greece. All of the Greeks we interacted with were delightful! Our leader, Elsa, was superb! She was charming and unflappable and she put tremendous energy into giving us the best possible experience. A great program!

Be prepared to be on the go with this island "hopping" program. It was a great way to experience and compare the islands. Excellent for walkers, those with intellectual curiosity about Greece's history, culture and present day issues. Spring and Fall are best weather-wise. Abundant and delicious food.

Absolutely go to Greece on this program.! The fact that one travels by ferry to several islands is the most enjoyable part of the trip, allowing for what must be a very new experience for most people. Amazing blue waters, black sand beaches, beautiful mountains and valleys, historic ruins and delicious mezze with every meal. As I told our program leader: What's not to like?

I enjoyed this trip thoroughly. Learned a lot about the ancient civilizations in Athens and on four Grecian islands. The food was good and the people of Greece seemed very welcoming and friendly to tourists. I felt very safe all the time on the trip.
Our trip leader (Elsa Savva) was superb. She was extremely knowledgeable and very caring about the needs of the participants. The program also had the right split between learning, guided tours, and free time.

A good survey trip of Athens and 5 islands. Activity level is high, walking 3 to 5+ miles almost every day. Surfaces can be rocky and elevated. Ferries are comfortable, carrying luggage on and off is not difficult. Food is plentiful, to a fault. Our group leader, Maria, is outstanding and provided excellent insight and information. Greek people seem genuinely friendly, and glad to see you! Athens and islands are generally clean and well maintained. The Aegeon Sea is beautiful and does not seem polluted. Excellent first trip to Greece,

We thoroughly enjoyed the Island Hopping in the Aegean program. Greece is safe with warm, welcoming people.
Unlike previous R S programs, the group leader was also the instructor/guide. She was excellent. Her knowledge about art, history and mythology was impressive, and her delivery engaging. If we had just walked around the Parthenon without first hearing our leader talk about its history while touring the Parthenon Museum, the experience would have not been as meaningful.
For a first time or repeat visit to Greece, I highly recommend the program and its leader. Like many R S programs there is always a special event it would have been difficult to plan on my own. We visited a potter who demonstrated his art. Any my friend on the trip was the brave volunteer to throw a pot there.

This program is a spectacular one, filled with wonderful scenery and terrific information on Greek culture, history, prehistory, and archaeology. Taking the ferries was great fun, we all loved the islands, and our Tour Leader, Elsa, was incredible and we loved her for her knowledge and her understanding of her subjects. She was also so much fun! Also our tour had a "hiccup" with a ferry strike and we commend R.S. for the way that our tour was re-configured and we loved the extra day in the Peloponnese Peninsular.

We have been on 3 US and 2 previous International trips with Road Scholar as well as trips with many other companies. This trip was a huge disappointment and I would not recommend taking it. We signed up for a small group...28 is not a small group! We had only one guide, who though very knowledgeable and nice, was not strong on logistics. The accommodations were not 4* by Greek standards, we know as we extended our trip privately and had much better. Twice we had sewer smells in our rooms, most had mold in the bathroom, we had several rooms with no view...we were last in alpha so got the least desirable rooms. Food was plentiful, but often not of high standard, especially breakfast. On the plus side the sites were terrific and the group was great.

Fantastic tour of archaeological sites, museums, and cities with a group leader with a very strong knowledge base. Stella brought this history and culture of Greece to life, and put it all into perspective, giving us a better understanding of the area, past to present. My husband and I were disappointed in the large size of the tour. It was listed as a small group tour (listed as 14-24 people), but we had 30 in the group and that was too many to really get to know people. Make sure to bring either hiking shoes or sneakers with a good gripping sole. The rocks can be tough on your feet if you are not prepared for the hiking over this rough terrain.

My husband and I really enjoyed this trip. We saw amazing sights dating back to 4 thousand BC. Our guide, Christiana, was wonderful in describing to us all the things we saw and what they meant. It is a strenuous trip and somebody w/difficulty moving around might not enjoy this. We were also disappointed in the quality of the food. However, our guide and the things we saw more than compensated for this small thing.

I am so glad that I went on this trip. The participant were all wonderful people. It would be great if Athina could do all Greece antiquities trips. She is not only a lot of fun. She is amazing in her breadth of knowledge.

Athina Trigoni was a fantastic guide who deserves all the credit for making this trip a success. She was attentive to every participant; she knows her "stuff"; she's engaging and witty and incredibly knowledgeable. We didn't miss a "highlight" at any of our stops because of her command of Greek history, culture and geography. Great job, Athina!
Thank you for making Greece so memorable.

Our leader, Athina Trigoni, was new to Road Scholar, but well-versed in all aspects of ancient/modern Greece. Only the Athens hotel had a room conducive to a "lecture" so Athina served as our volcanologist/paleontologist/archeologist/historian "lecturing" to us as we rode and walked to and from the various sites. She translated signs and customs, food and prices and was the good foreign friend we all wish we had.
The activity level is "moderately challenging." Good shoes and a walking stick is suggested for the Acropolis. The good shoes are again suggested for the cobbled streets and sidewalks of the island towns visited